Thornton first selection in Free Agent Draft

BERLIN Thunder head coach RICK LANTZ made cornerback JAMES THORNTON the
first overall pick in the 2004 NFLEL Free Agent Draft and then proceeded to
stock his preseason roster with a host of former Scottish Claymores.

Thornton played his college football at Morris Brown University and boasts
NFL experience with the Chicago Bears. He was one of five defenders taken in
the first round of Sunday's draft.

The Amsterdam Admirals selected defensive end DARRELL WRIGHT with the second
overall pick, before the Cologne Centurions grabbed defensive end DEMETRIC
EVANS, who played in 20 games for the Dallas Cowboys in 2001-02, recording
20 tackles and 1 sack. Defensive ends were taken with the next two picks as
the Scottish Claymores selected IVORY McCOY, previously of the Philadelphia
Eagles, before the Rhein Fire picked RANDY GARNER, who has NFL experience
with the St. Louis Rams. The defending World Bowl champion Frankfurt Galaxy
bucked the defensive trend in round one as they selected West Virginia tight
end CHRIS EDMONDS, who played 12 games at fullback for the Cincinnati
Bengals in 2002-03, recording 7 special team tackles.

In round two, Berlin selected defensive end T.J. BINGHAM, who led the
Scottish Claymores with 7 sacks in 2003, adding 26 tackles and 2 forced
fumbles. The Thunder also grabbed ex-Claymores in All-NFLEL linebacker
YUBRENAL ISABELLE, defensive tackle DEVONTE PETERSON, cornerback KEITH
HEYWARD-JOHNSON and fullback MIKE MALAN, who caught 25 passes for 241 yards
and 4 touchdowns in 2003, while chipping in with 106 rushing yards on 17
carries. The Thunder also grabbed offensive guard TROY ANDREW, who played
for the Barcelona Dragons in 2003.

Round two saw the Rhein Fire grab the first of two All-NFL Europe League
defenders from the 2002 season in linebacker MAUGAULA TUITELE, who recorded
61 tackles and 1 sack en route to World Bowl X. Also heading back to the
Fire is cornerback EARTHWIND MORELAND, who was selected in the fourth round.

In round eleven, the Frankfurt Galaxy nabbed a defensive lineman who starred
for the Rhein Fire in 2003 in the form of JOSH McKIBBEN. In helping the Fire
to a berth in World Bowl XI, McKibben recorded 24 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 1
forced fumble.

In the later rounds, new Scottish Claymores head coach JACK BICKNELL grabbed
a pair of wide receivers with NFLEL experience in DERONNIE PITTS (Barcelona
2002) and TODD ELSTROM (Scotland/Rhein 2003).

Running back ANTWON McCRAY, of Toledo, was the Free Agent Draft's 'Mr
Irrelevant' when he was selected with the last pick of the 13th round by the
Cologne Centurions. McCray has brief NFL experience with the Denver Broncos.